Title : A novel method of active medication delivery via microneedles using a belousov-zhabotinsky oscillating hydrogel
Abstract:
Despite the widespread use of hypodermic needles in intradermal medication delivery, they remain a source of pain and trauma in patients young and old. The research introduces a novel approach to active medication delivery using microneedle arrays, utilizing the high swellability of Belousov-Zhabotinsky oscillating hydrogels. The patch has several essential elements, including an innovative hammock design, a sink, and an oscillating hydrogel that undergoes dynamic swelling and shrinking. The oscillating hydrogel is a mechanical force within the patch, facilitating precise medication delivery through microneedles into the subdermal skin. Several types of hydrogels were synthesized with different catalysts, such as 5-acrylamide-1,10-phenanthroline,1,10-phenanthroline ferrous sulfate and iron(5-acrylamide-1,10 phenanthroline)bis(1,10-phenanthroline)sulfate, to test the effectiveness of various hydrogel particle sizes, from microgels to solid gels. A base of n-isopropylacrylamide was used as a pre-polymer, along with a BIS-crosslinker. Still, the initiator was changed to influence the particle size of the gels, and the gels were characterized underneath a microscope as well. A customized plexiglass prototype was constructed to measure the pressure generated by the oscillation of the gels. It was discovered that the solid gel generated the most pressure at 8 millimeters of mercury and displaced the hammock by 0.625 centimeters, showing the utility of oscillating hydrogels in a microneedle patch to deliver medication. The proposed system offers a potential long-term, reusable solution, and a disposable, short-term method, potentially applicable in a hospital setting or for use by patients in a non-clinical setting. The focus on oscillating hydrogels aligns with patient-friendly drug delivery, showcasing their unique capabilities in autonomous and pain-free administration of a diverse range of medications, promising oscillating hydrogels and microneedles in revolutionizing drug delivery.
Audience Take Away Notes:
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This presentation serves the purpose of bringing awareness to needle phobia, which is a very common fear that people have, but there have not been many efforts to address this problem as the hypodermic needle has not been changed in design for hundreds of years. Also, it is difficult for many people to self-administer medication, so there is also a need for more autonomous medication delivery systems
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There is still scope for active medication delivery. Traditional forms of active medication delivery that include some sort of external force acting upon the vessel of delivery are typically painful and uncomfortable for the end user or patient. On the other hand, passive medication delivery methods, such as transdermal patches, often rely on natural diffusion. This leads to many limitations, such as the size of the medication that can be delivered using the drug delivery method. Microneedles with active force can be a possible solution to this problem
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The prototype that has been prepared can showcase the ease and accessibility of use. It is not only quite wearable in daily life, but it is also easy to use and activate, potentially being a short-term vaccination option or a long-term medication administration method for patients all over the world
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Also, the use of the Belousov-Zhabotinsky oscillating hydrogel could make it more cost-effective for active medication delivery. Using the hydrogel could not only prolong the drug delivery and control the dosage and intervals accurately, but it could also be less expensive than other methods that use more hard-to-procure technology. BZ oscillating hydrogels are quite an untapped field
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The microneedle patch is also an environmentally friendly solution as it is reusable and sustainable, contributing significantly less plastic pollution to the environment compared to traditional syringes and needles. It could prevent much waste from the healthcare industry compared to other methods of drug delivery
